Dancing with the Stars, an extremely popular reality Tv show where celebrities are paired with professional dancers, has been beloved since its release in 2005. Each week, there is a new theme for the dances, and the pairs learn a new style of dance and perform it live in front of judges and viewers. The judges score each dance, and fans can also vote from home. The lowest scoring pairs are eliminated week by week until one singular pair remains. Currently, the show is halfway through their 34th season, and every Tuesday viewers from all over tune in with excitement to watch the hit dance competition show with its emotional, and show stopping performances.
This year, the show has many memorable and iconic celebrities participating in the show. Some of the most notable pairs at the premiere included Robert Irwin (wildlife advocate) and Witney Carson, Dylan Efron (reality T.V. star) and Daniella Karagach, Danielle Fishel (Boy Meets World actress) and Pasha Pashkov, Alix Earle (social media influencer) and Val Chmerkovskiy, Baron Davis (former NBA star) and Britt Stewart, and Scott Hoying (Pentatonix singer) and Rylee Arnold. Other pairs include Hilaria Baldwin (wellness influencer) and Gleb Savchenko, Jordan Chiles (Olympic gold medalist) and Ezra Sosa, Corey Feldman (actor) and Jenna Johnson, Elaine Hendrix (actress) and Alan Bersten, Andy Richter (comedian) and Emma Slater, Whitney Leavitt (reality T.V star and influencer) and Mark Ballas, Lauren Jauregui (singer) and Brandon Armstrong, and Jen Affleck (reality T.V. star and influencer) and Jan Ravnik.
During the first half of the season, some contestants surprised the world with their talent and showmanship while others received less praise and some scrutiny from fans— especially over social media platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok. As a super fans and DWTS enthusiasts, we have fabricated some opinions on performances as well as some predictions for the rest of the season.
Andy Ritcher, a popular comedian is a fan favorite— but he struggles in the dance category. Two weeks ago, each celebrity chose a loved one to dedicate their dance to. Richter chose his adorable 5 year old daughter. Although the dance was heartwarming, he received a score of 24/40 points— the weakest of the night. Lucky for Richter and his partner Emma Slater, no one was eliminated that night.
From my close inspection of each episode, I predict that next episode (Tuesday 10/28), Richter and Slater will be eliminated. In all, Andy has been a positive influence on the DWTS community this past season but most constants have to be eliminated at some point.
A figure that has surprised many (including myself) is Witney Leavitt (from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives). Witney was a dance major at Brigham Young University (BYU). This has stirred up some controversy among fans— some think this prior experience is an unfair advantage for Leavitt. When the cast for the show was announced, fans barely acknowledged the reality star. From episode 1, Leavitt has impressed fans with her cha-cha, quickstep and more! I am ecstatic to see what else Leavitt and partner Mark Ballas will produce— especially because they will likely be participating in many more episodes.
From shocking eliminations to jaw dropping dance moves and emotional tributes, this season of Dancing with the Stars is shaping up to be one of the most talked about yet. Whatever your opinions are on each pair of dancers one thing is for sure, this show is a must watch and continues to remain one of the most popular reality competitions.
